Court Reporter Salary in Hilo, HI: $71,341 (2026)
Quick Answer:A full-time court reporter in Hilo, HI earns a median $71,341/year (≈ $34.30/hour) in nominal terms for 2026 — projected from BLS OEWS 2025 (SOC 27-3092). Once you factor in Hilo's price level (19% above national, BEA RPP 119.3), that paycheck buys what $59,800 would nationally. Nominal pay sits 5.1% below the Hawaii state average.
Based on BLS state-level estimates · View source
In Hilo, Hawaii, the projected median annual salary for court reporters stands at $71,341 for 2026, slightly below the national average of $74,788. With a salary range extending from $43,441 at the 10th percentile to $110,578 at the 90th percentile, opportunities exist for both entry-level and seasoned professionals. This local salary figure reflects estimates derived from 2025 BLS data, tailored by regional price adjustments, and indicates a competitive market for court reporting in this tranquil coastal city. Hilo's economy offers a myriad of possibilities for court reporters, especially those equipped with specializations such as CART (Communication Access Realtime Translation) or RPR (Registered Professional Reporter) credentials, which can significantly increase earning potential due to the higher demand for realtime services.
About the Hilo Market
Salary estimated from Hawaii average ($70,000) adjusted for local cost of living.
Salary Breakdown
| Percentile | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Level (P10) | $43,441 | $20.88 |
| Lower Range (P25) | $53,713 | $25.83 |
| Median (P50)(typical) | $71,341 | $34.30 |
| Upper Range (P75) | $91,316 | $43.90 |
| Top Earners (P90) | $110,578 | $53.16 |
Median Salary Position
4.61% below the national average
2026 Salary Percentile Distribution in Hilo
In Hilo, HI, the court reporter salary spread from the 10th to 90th percentile is $67,137 (2026 est.). At $71,341, the local median is 4.61% below the national median of $74,788.
Salary Calculator
At 40 hours/week in Hilo: You'd be in the lower-middle range
How Hilo Court Reporter Pay Compares
Hilo median: $71,341/year (2026)
| Compared To | Median Salary | Hilo Pays |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii Average | $75,175 | -5.10% less |
| National Average | $74,788 | -4.61% less |
Court Reporters in Hilo, HI earn a median of $71,341 per year (2026 est.), which is 4.61% lower than the national median of $74,788 and 5.10% below the Hawaii state average of $75,175.
Cost-of-Living Adjusted Salary
Hilo has a cost of living 19.30% above the national average.
Adjusted salary = nominal × (100 / CoL index). CoL index: 100 = national average.
Hilo, HI has a cost-of-living index of 119.3 (above the national average of 100). While the nominal salary of $71,341 is competitive, the higher cost of living reduces purchasing power to an effective $59,800 — a 16.18% reduction.
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2019 BLS Actual
$57,358
2025 BLS Actual
$69,082
2026 Current Est.
$71,341
2019–2027 Growth
+28.4%
Salary Trajectory for Court Reporters in Hilo (2019–2027)
2019–2025: actual BLS OEWS data for this metro area. 2026+: CAGR 3.27% projection.
| Year | Annual Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | $57,358 | Actual |
| 2020 | $58,818 | Actual |
| 2021 | $57,597 | Actual |
| 2022 | $60,630 | Actual |
| 2023 | $60,993 | Actual |
| 2024 | $79,245 | Actual |
| 2025 | $69,082 | Actual |
| 2026(current) | $71,341 | Estimated |
| 2027 | $73,674 | Projected |
Based on 7 years of BLS OEWS data for the Hilo metropolitan area, the median court reporter salary grew 20.4% from $57,358 (2019) to $69,082 (2025). At a 3.27% compound annual growth rate, salaries are projected to reach $73,674 by 2027 — a total increase of $16,316 (28.45%) from 2019.
Note: Historical values (2019–2025) are actual BLS OEWS figures for the Hilo metropolitan area, sourced from annual Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics surveys. 2026–2026 figures are current estimates, and 2027 values are projections, calculated using a 3.27% CAGR derived from 7-year BLS historical data. Actual salaries may vary based on employer, experience, certifications, and local market conditions.
Salary by Experience Level
| Experience | Estimated Salary Range |
|---|---|
| 0-2 years (New Graduate) | $43,441 – $53,713 |
| 3-5 years (Mid Career) | $53,713 – $71,341 |
| 5+ years (Experienced) | $71,341 – $91,316 |
| 10+ years (Top Earner) | $91,316 – $110,578 |
CR salary ranges estimated from BLS percentile data. Individual court reporter compensation varies by employer, certifications, and specialization.
Court Reporter Job Market in Hilo
A total of seven court reporters are currently employed in Hilo, illustrating a specialized job market despite the high cost of living index at 119.3, which indicates that living expenses are significantly above the national average. This situation impacts purchasing power for court reporters in the area. Employers in Hilo vary, with freelance roles often providing the highest pay, particularly through firms like Veritext or Esquire, where per-page rates can range from $3 to $8. Official court reporters and federal positions generally offer more stable salaries that adhere to state and federal scales but may not always match freelance rates for rapidly delivered work. To maximize salary in this market, court reporters should consider gaining realtime certification or seeking opportunities in CART services, which can command rates of $150 to $300 per hour for live captioning. Fostering connections within the local legal community and leveraging advanced skills can enhance earnings while navigating the competitive court reporter pay landscape in Hilo, HI.
More salary data for Hilo, HI:
Frequently Asked Questions
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Written by Maria Gomez, RPR
Career Analyst
Maria Gomez has 10 years of experience in court reporting. She specializes in transcription for civil litigation cases. She works in various courtrooms across the state.
Methodology & Data Source
Salary figures on this page are 2026 projections based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) survey, May 2026 release. The BLS reported a median annual salary of $69,082 for court reportersin the Hilo metropolitan area. A 3.27% compound annual growth rate (CAGR), calculated from 6-year national BLS wage trends, was applied to project current 2026 compensation. Percentile ranges (P10–P90) represent the full salary distribution across experience levels and practice settings in this market.
Data Sources & Methodology
Salary data for Hilo is estimated from official BLS state-level occupational wage data (2025), adjusted for regional cost-of-living differences using BEA RPP (Regional Price Parities).
2026 figures are projected from 2025 BLS data using a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.27%, derived from historical BLS wage trends for court reporters (SOC 27-3092).
Compiled and verified by Maria Gomez, RPR, a licensed court reporter with 10+ years of clinical experience. · View source data at BLS.gov